Join Us
Valley Jazz Voices provides the unique opportunity for singers to come together in a community that is passionate about jazz. We sing jazz vocal arrangements in a group, we learn exciting four-part harmonies and arrangements, develop jazz vocal techniques, learn about historical styles, and have opportunities to perform solos. The repertoire draws from well known favorites as well as newer and lesser known jazz vocal repertoire.
Director Jeff Olmsted is a composer and arranger as well as a choral director, and often contributes his pieces to the VJV repertoire.
Valley Jazz Voices is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to participate.
Email us at valleyjazzvoices@gmail.com if you have any questions about joining us.
More About VJV
WHO
Valley Jazz Voices is a non-auditioned choir. We welcome singers of all genders, ages and abilities, including seasoned professionals, aspiring students and dedicated amateurs. Although it is helpful to have some choral singing experience, it is not required. VJV singers learn in a supportive environment through both printed music and parts recordings to ensure that anyone can participate.
WHAT
Valley Jazz Voices performs a rich and diverse repertoire in four-part harmony drawing from swing, bebop, cool, Brazilian and pop-inspired jazz arrangements. In performance, we are accompanied by a professional jazz trio.
WHEN
We rehearse in-person on Mondays from 7:00 to 8:45 pm, and start the spring 2024 season with two open rehearsals on Feb 12 and 19.
WHERE
Rehearsals take place at Rockridge Retirement Community (in the Community Room), 25 - 37 Coles Meadow Rd, Northampton, MA. Mondays from 7:00 to 8:45PM. Zoom rehearsals are an option for singers who live outside the region or for illness/extenuating circumstance.
HOW
You can register for the spring 2024 season here. You can also sign up for our mailing list to receive news about our upcoming rehearsals and seasons. The first two rehearsals of the beginning of each new season are open rehearsals to allow new members to participate at no cost to see if VJV is a good fit.
COST
The spring 2024 season dues are on a sliding scale of $180 to $230 and a student rate of $50. Dues can be paid on PayPal or by check. Make checks payable to “Valley Jazz Voices” and mail to: Marion Griswold, Treasurer, 46 Hastings Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
We are committed to being accessible to anyone who wants to sing with us. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Email us at valleyjazzvoices@gmail.com if you wish to discuss this with us.
Watch one of VJV’s finished virtual tunes on our YouTube channel. Subscribe if you’d like!
Watch how VJV learned songs virtually during Zoom rehearsals during the pandemic. We never stopped singing!